The Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group works to help people whose rights have been violated and investigates cases involving such abuse, as well as assessing the overall human rights situation in Ukraine. The Group also seeks to develop awareness of human rights issues through public events and its various publications

Russia’s FSB have carried out a search at the offices of the independent radio station Ekho Moskvy and removed electronic correspondence between the station and political analyst Andrei Piontkovsky. A number of members of staff have also been summoned for interrogation, presumably regarding the article “The Bomb waiting to explode” over which Piontkovsky is facing ‘extremism’ charges. Piontkovsky left Russia shortly after the criminal investigation was launched. The charges are under “public calls to actions aimed at encroaching upon Russia’s territorial integrity” and “incitement to enmity”. Although those convicted under these articles of the Criminal Code have in same cases, like that of Rafis Kashapov or Vadim Tyumentsev, only criticized Russia’s annexation of Crimea and aggression in Ukraine, acquittals in such trials are unheard of, and Piontkovsky had real grounds for concern.

The Chief Editor Alexei Venedictov faces questioning over both Piontkovsky and opposition leader Alexei Navalny’s blogs on the site.